Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Proverbs 3:9-26.

“9 Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.”  Proverbs 3:9-26.

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Other doctrine is content to rest on its feelings of what is wise.

But. Reformed Doctrine wakes up in the middle of night to read God’s Word.

Reformed Doctrine starts the day to meditate and write on God’s Word.

Reformed Doctrine eagerly seeks that wisdom and understanding.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

“15 She (Wisdom) is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.”  Verses 15-18.

“18 “Riches and honor are with me (Wisdom),
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.”  Proverbs 6:18-21.

“21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.”  Verses 21-26.

Today’s devotion comes from Proverbs 2:10-22.

“10 For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things;
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who delight in doing evil
And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;
16 To deliver you from the strange woman,
From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
17 That leaves the companion of her youth
And forgets the covenant of her God;
18 For her house sinks down to death
And her tracks lead to the dead;
19 None who go to her return again,
Nor do they reach the paths of life.
20 So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land
And the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land
And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.”  Proverbs 2:10-22.

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“11 Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil, …”  Verses 11-12.

“5 Acquire wisdom!  Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.”  Proverbs 4:5-6.

“How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.”  Psalm 119:1-3.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-26.

Christ is our wisdom.  “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, …”  1 Corinthians 1:30.

“… our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 1:8.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“… He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”  Colossians 1:22.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 24-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Proverbs 2:1-9.

“My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.”   Proverbs 2:1-9.

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“5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.”  Proverbs 1:5-6.T

Today’s Scripture is like a riddle in the sense of the foregoing Proverbs 1:6.

One of the definitions of a riddle is “something or someone difficult to understand”.  Merriam-Webster Dictionary –  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riddle

On the one hand, it is true that wisdom is valuable as silver or hidden treasure, worthy of diligent search.  Verse 4.

On the other hand, it is also true that the LORD gives wisdom, even stores up wisdom for the upright.  Verses 6-7.

Other doctrine may work hard for wisdom.  Other doctrine may have zeal.  Other doctrine may search the Scriptures as if searching for silver or hidden treasure.  But, other doctrine fails to come to Christ.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life;  it is these that testify about Me;  and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”  John 5:39-40.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes and teaches what God has done for us, including what Christ has done for us, from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“… He preserves the way of His godly ones.”  Verse 8.

Our treasure is Christ.  Our wisdom is Christ.

“… Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:2-3.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 150.

“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!”  Psalm chapter 150.

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God’s mighty deeds call for mighty praise of Him.

God’s excellent greatness deserve excellent great praise of Him.

“Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.”  Verse 2.

Today’s Scripture, the concluding chapter of the Book of Psalms, comes to a crescendo and shows us what praise of God is according to His excellent greatness.

According to God’s excellent greatness, praise of Him alerts people and gets their attention and their focus on God.  

“Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.”  Verse 3.

According to God’s excellent greatness, praise of Him is joyful.

“Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.”  Verse 4.

According to God’s excellent greatness, praise of Him is loud and resounding.

“Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.”  Verse 5.

According to God’s excellent greatness, praise of Him is with all and every breath that we have.  Praise is with all of our mind, heart, soul, and strength.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!”  Verse 6.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 149.

“Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

5 Let the godly ones exult in glory;
Let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations
And punishment on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings with chains
And their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To execute on them the judgment written;
This is an honor for all His godly ones.
Praise the Lord!”  Psalm chapter 149.

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There is a change in focus from all the elements of creation being exhorted to praise the LORD in Psalm chapter 148 to a focus on God’s godly ones being exhorted to praise the LORD in this Psalm chapter 149.

We see that focus on God’s godly ones in the use of words and phrases “godly ones”, “Israel”, “sons of Zion”, and “His people” that I have highlighted above in bold italic font.

Yes, all creation should praise the LORD.  Psalm chapter 148.

But, at the top of God’s creation and with a sense of God’s special blessing of salvation of them, God’s godly ones should above all lead the praise of the LORD.  Psalm chapter 149.

“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”  Verse 4.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 148.

“Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
And the waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also established them forever and ever;
He has made a decree which will not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
Sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills;
Fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and winged fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
Praise for all His godly ones;
Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
Praise the Lord!”  Psalm chapter 148.

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Other doctrine tries to chip away that God created heaven and earth and that He is sovereign and totally controls every element of creation.

But, Reformed Doctrine cheerfully chirps every element of creation and commands them to praise the LORD.

“Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.”  Verse 5.

Everything fulfills God’s word.

“Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;”  Verse 8.

From the beginning of the chapter …

“Praise the Lord!  …”  Verse 1.

To the end of the chapter …

“…  Praise the Lord!”  Verse 14.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 147.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+147&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord supports the afflicted;
He brings down the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
8 Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
9 He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens which cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:1-11.

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Other doctrine continually looks at itself and what it has done, taking pleasure in itself.

But, Reformed Doctrine continually looks at God and what He has done, fearing God and waiting for His lovingkindness.

“13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:13-22.

“12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.”  Psalm 147:12-14.